Presidential aide happy with port decongestion

THE Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Matters, Mr Olugbenga Leke Oyewole, yesterday hailed the Association of Maritime Trucks Owners (AMATO) for starting a scheme that would reduce transport chaos in the Lagos maritime environment.

Oyewole spoke in Lagos after inspecting facilities at the International Trade Fair Complex on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. The facilities were provided by a consortium of private sector operators, including AMATO, the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Road Transport Employers Association (RETRAN).

He described the scheme as a classical example of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, which he said would reduce congestion at the nation’s seaports and boost businesses in Nigeria.

The presidential aide noted that the initiative would provide logistics for port operations, reduce corruption and enhance security in the maritime industry.

According to him, the human element in transactions at the ports will also be eliminated.

Oyewole urged the administrators of the scheme to develop a synergy with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders to enable them achieve the objectives of the scheme.

The Managing Director of Multi-Aulic Limited, the concessionaire, who is also piloting the scheme, Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, said his company’s participation in the scheme is to enable it contribute to the growth of the economy through the private sector.

He said the complex, which has four terminals, will each have a recreation centre, eateries, toilets and other facilities, when it becomes fully operational.

Dantata said up to 5,000 trucks would be accommodated within the complex.

According to him, one of the advantages of the centre is its proximity to the ports.

The businessman said the 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Road, currently under construction, will boost the operations of the centre.